The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-09-23
Patagonia.

Patagonia is the territory occupying
the southern extremity of the Continent
OF South America. II extends from the
Rio Negro on the South, length Of
I.CO0 miles. The peninsula is 4I5 miles
wide ct its northern boundary aud l75
miles wide near the straits; its area,
Including both sides OF the Andes, IS
about $50, 600 square miles. Patagonia
is traveTsed from north TO south by the
Andes Mountains, which here lie nearer
to the coast than anywhere else south Of
the IsthmUs of Panama. At many
points the spurs OF the mountain chain
extend TO the rocky edge of the ocean.
The narrow strip OF Land west Of the
mountains and the border OF the islands
friuging the coast belong to Chill. The
remainder OF the peninsula IS attached
10 the Argentine Republic. las. OF the
mountains the country is generally fiat.
However, the territory has been very
imPeTfectly explored. There are several
rivers that traverse the eastern plains,
of which the most important are the
Santa Cruz, the SE. George, the Chuput
and the Rio Negro. There are believed
to lie several fine lakes in the interior of
the country. but only one OF these, Lake
MEDINA, in the southern part, has been
expired. AS 10 the climates, the yin
ters are long and cold, and the brief
summers are very hot, and in the inte-
rIOT, drOughts are frequent. But on the
coast there is more rain, and the seasons
are more temperate. There Is a general
similarity IN the vegetation throughout
all Patagonia. There are trees which
grow along the rivers, out the plains are
generally covered with grass only, OF
dwarf spiny shrubs. Wild cattle and
horses are found on the plains, and pu-
| mas. guanacos, wolves. foxes and otner
large animals abound Patagonia was
discovered in 1920 by Magellan. He
named the country, it is said, from the
Spanish wOId, patagon, a large foot, be-
| cause Of large footprints he saw on the
sand, but it has since been noticed that
| the Pat2goniaus have feet that are Iath-
| er small in proportion TO their size.
Since then the country has been, to q
| limited extent, explored by various Eu-
| rOpeans, End the American IIassler eX-
| peditIOD, in ISL, made survey of the
| coast. Colonization has not been alto
| gether successful. There is a Scotch
colony at Port Desire, which was estsb-
! lished for the pGrpOse of supplying and
\ repairing ships. Other European colo
MES have been attempted, but have been
/ given up. Settlements of the Chilians
| and Argentines have been more psrms-
! nent. Since 1881 the claim of the Ar
| g5ntIne Republic to Eastern Patagonia,
before contested by Chill, has been fully
| conceded. The Argentines have queil-
ed the hostile Indian tribes, and have
| made considerable exploration of the
| country. They find the northern plains
Of little value except for grazing, but
! farther south, the land IS better fitted
/ for cultivation, and some promising
! colonies have already been planted upon
! it. The original Indian inhabitants of
| Patagonia have now Gwipdied down to
few thousands. They have always
been regarded as one OF the lowest
known races in point of developments.
| They are described as most repUlsive in
| appearance and though some impression
! has been made upon their savsseCy in
certain districts through the mission
| aries they are still a rude, wild race, but
are rapidly passing away before the in
roads OF more intelligent races.-Inter-